Remote control toy



Dec. 2, 1 969 A. w. HINKSO N 3,481,071 I REMOTE CONTROL TOY Filed March16. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARTHUR W. HINKSON ATTORNEY Dec. 2,1969 A. w. HINKSON REMOTE CONTROL TOY Filed March 16. 1966 3Sheets-Sheet 2 GAS GAS FIG.6

v INVENTOR; 7i ARTHUR w. HiNKSON m H 4%. 77 F526;? ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1969A. w. I-I-IINKSON I 3,

REMOTE CONTROL TOY Filed March 16. 1966 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 52

INVENTOR. ARTHUR W. HENKSON BY M5149 ATTORN EY 3,481,071 REMOTE CONTROLTOY Arthur William Hinkson, 45 Jervis Ave., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735Filed Mar. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 534,743

Int. Cl. A63h 33/26 I U.S. Cl. 46-240 11 Claims This invention relatesin general to remotely controlled toys, and more particularly to a toyvehicle, boat, or the like which is moved about a board by manipulationof a mechanism.

A main object of this invention is to provide an amusement device havinga board on which a toy boat, vehicle, figure, or the like may bedirected by the manipulation of seemingly un-connected controls.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device ortoy which gives rise to a unique sensation of the remote control of anobject on a board.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanicallyactivated remotely controlled vehicle, boat, figure, or the like whichmay be maneuvered over a board according to the skill of an operator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanicallinkage to remotely move a toy about a board, the linkage reaching theentire operating surface of the board and greatly magnifying the controlmotions of an operator.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive toywhich provides a greater pleasure, thrill of use, and requirement ofskill than other more costly, elaborate, and complex amusement devices.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a remotelycontrolled toy vehicle which may be driven mechanically on a board by aremote control device which presents the natural appearance to anoperator of an automobile steering wheel.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a parallel bar mechanismwhich expands and contracts, known as a lazy tong mechanism, below aboard to move a toy on the board about the board by means of a magnet,the lazy tong mechanism having a free and a secured end, the magnetbeing fixed to the free end of the lazy tong mechanism and control meansbeing attached near the secured end of the mechanism to amplifymovements of the control means.

Many other objects, advantages, and features of invention reside in theparticular contruction, combination, and arrangement of parts involvedin the embodir FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a toy boat which may be usedwith this invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the board of the first embodiment of thisinvention with the bottom cover removed;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3 with the bottom covershown in place;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a fragment of the board of the secondembodiment of my invention with portions of the board broken away aboutthe control unit and with the bottom cover removed from the board;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section through a United StatesPatent 0 3,481,071 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 modified control unit for thesecond embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a fragment of a board with the modifiedcontrol unit of FIG. 10 mounted thereon;

FIG. 12 is a section taken on line 1212 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is a section taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 8 with the bottom covershown in position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1-5 show the first embodimentof my invention which has a board 20 of plastic, fiberboard, or thelike. Board 20 has a bottom cover 21 fixed under it by screws 22 whichenter brackets 23. A parallel bar or lazy tong mechanism 24 is pivotallysecured by a screw 25 to a boss 26 near one corner of board 20. Two longrestraining links 27 and 28 are connected to the pivot 29 nearest screw25. The pivotally mounted links 30 and 31 are attached to board 20 byscrews 32 and 33. Control links 34 and 35 have ends attached,respectively, to the pivot 36 between links 27 and 30 and the pivot 37between links 30 and 31.

Two control disks 38 and 39 are rotatably secured on board 20 by screwsor rivets 40 and 41. Arcuate slots 42 and 43 are cut in board 20 belowthe disks 38 and 39. Screws or the like 44 and 45 extend from disks 38and 39 to control links 34 and 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, mechanism 24 terminates in a pivot point 46 belowwhich is fixed a glide type bearing 47 which slides freely on bottomcover 21. Mounted on a flat spring 48 above pivot 46 is a magnet 49.Spring 48 holds magnet 49 against the underside of board 20. As shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a small boat 50 of wood or a like material having amagnetic element 51 glued below it is placed on board 20.

The first embodiment of my invention is used as follows. The boat 50, atoy lighthouse 53, a breakwater 54, buoys 55 and 56, and like objects,are removed from the attached box 57 and placed on the effective area 58marked on board 20. Area 58 may be painted to simulate Water if desired.Turning the control disks 38 and 39 moves the magnet 49 below theeffective area 58 by means of the mechanism 24. Thus manipulation ofdisks 38 and 39 can move boat 50 about the objects on board 20.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it may be seen that the restraining links 27and 28 are of great length. Thus when only disk 38 is moved, disk 39being stationary, pivot point 29 will move on the circumference of arelatively large circle in substantially a straight line. Therefore, itmay be seen that the selective manipulation of disk 38 or 39 movesmagnet 49 in substantially straight paths at right angles to each other.Simultaneous manipulation of the control disks 38 and 39 moves themagnet 49 and thereby boat 50 along a path at a resultant angle. Magnet49 is restrained to move only under effective area 58 by the length ofthe arcuate slots 42 and 43 Which limit rotation of disks 38 and 39.

The forces required to move mechanism 24 and boat 50 are very small. Forthis reason the motion of the control disks 38 and 39 may be greatlymagnified by the mechanism 24. This magnification of the control motionsgives the user of this embodiment of my invention the sensation thatthere is no understandable mechanical connection between the controldisks 38 and 39 and boat 50 to provide a unique experience of remotecontrol.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 13, the second embodiment of myinvention has a board 60 below which there is fixed a bottom cover 61.An effective area 62 marked on board 60 has toy automobile accessories63 and 64, and houses and garages 65 and 6-6 placed on'it.

When these articles are not being used, they may be kept in the box 59fixed to board 60. One or more raised parking areas 67 and 68 are gluedto board in area 62. Toy automobiles 69 and 70 each have free turningrear wheels 71 and a magnetic element 72 in their front ends. A lazytong mechanism 74 has a magnet 75 fixed over its endmost pivot point 76by a spring member 77. Thus as mechanism 74 moves magnet 75 about belowthe effective area, it draws a toy automobile along over board 60.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, a long restraining link 78 is pivotallyfixed by a screw 79 to boss 80 of board 60. A control unit, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 81, has a housing 82 fixed to board60. A hollow shaft 83 is rotatably fixed in housing 82 by means of acollar 84 or the like. Shaft 83 has a wheel 85 fixed to its outer endand a crank arm 86 fixed to extend downward from its inner end through aslot 87 in board 60. A link 88 is fixed to arm 86 and is pivotallyconnected to the fixed end of mechanism 74 through a straight slot 89 inthe offset guide plate 90. Guide plate 90 is fixed below board 60 byscrews 91. Thus it may be seen that rotation of wheel 85 moves the fixedend of mechanism 74 laterally to move the free end of mechanism 74 andmagnet 75 laterally in the same direction as wheel 85 is turned.

Referring further to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, a center shaft 92 extends throughshaft 83 and has a plate or disk 93 fixed to its outer end within anopening 94 in the center of wheel 85. A downward projection 95 from theinner end of shaft 92 extends through slot 99 to be fixed to restraininglink 78. The free end of restraining link 78 is connected to the firstpivot point 96 of mechanism 74. A tension spring 97 urges the free endof link 78 upward to retract the mechanism 74 longitudinally. Thuspressure on plate 93 moves magnet '75 outward and relaxation of thispressure allows spring 97 to move it inward. The Wheel 85 and disk 93 ofcontrol unit 81 are very natural to use. The wheel 85 is grasped by thefingers of both hands with the thumbs resting on disk 93.

In this manner the user of the second embodiment of my invention maydrive a car 69 or 70 about area 62 in a very realistic manner. Since themovements of control wheel 85 and plate 93 are greatly magnified bymechanism 74, a unique sensation is obtained to the extent that it ishard to believe that a mechanical linkage exists between the controlsand a driven toy car. One car may be parked by moving it against araised parking area 67 or 68 and then shifting magnet under another car.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show a modification of the second embodiment of myinvention. Wheel 100 of control unit 101 is fixed to outer shaft 102which is rotatably mounted in housing 103. A lazy tong mechanism 104 hasone end pivotally fixed to boss 105 by a screw 106. A square or splinedshaft 108 extends through shaft 102 and has a crank 109 fixed to it. Thefree end of crank 109 extends through opening 115 in board 107 and isconnected to the first pivot point 110 of mechanism 104 by a suitablebracket 111. The outer end of shaft 108 has a plate (not shown) fixed toit within wheel 100 similar to plate 93 within wheel 85. A tensionspring 114 tends to retract mechanism 104 longitudinally. Thus rotationof wheel 100 moves the free end of mechanism 104 laterally whiledepression of its plate moves it longitudinally. Since opening 115 isrectangular and limits movement of the end of crank 109 to a rectangulararea, opening 115 limits the much greater movement of the free end (notshown) of mechanism 104 to a rectangular elfective area.

The lazy tong mechanism of this invention may have a greater or lessernumber of pivot points or quadrilateral sections depending on theparticular configuration of a given embodiment of my invention. In allcases, however, the mechanism should amplify the control motionsimparted to it to give rise to the unique sense of remote controlprovided by my invention.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising, in combination, a board, a firstpivot means, lazy tongs mechanism disposed below said board, saidmechanism having a pivoted end attached to said first pivot means and anouter free end, an element attached to the free end of said mechanismunder said board, a second pivot means on said mechanism near butdisplaced from said pivoted end, a hand-activated control meansconnected to said second pivot means to move said mechanism in twodirections in a plane parallel to said board, said control means movingone of said pivots about the other of said pivots, said lazy tongsmechanism magnifying motion imparted to said mechanism by said controlmeans to move said element below an area of said board, and a toydisposed on said board, said element and said toy being magneticallyattracted to each other, said toy being drawn about said board bymovement of said element.

2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of a bottomcover parallel to said board below said board, at least the free end ofsaid mechanism resting on and sliding on said bottom cover.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said element is a magnetand with the addition of spring means supporting said magnet above thefree end of said mechanism and holding said magnet against the undersideof said board.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said hand-activatedcontrol means has a first shaft mounted on said board substantialyparallel to said mechanism, a hand turned wheel on said first shaft, acrank on said first shaft, and means connecting said crank to saidmechanism imparting lateral motion to said mechanism when said controlwheel is turned.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said first shaft ishollow and with the addition of a second shaft slidably extendingthrough said first shaft, a control disk on said second shaft in thecenter of said control wheel, a projection of said second shaft engagingsaid mechanism, and spring means retracting said mechanism so thatpressure on said control disk extends said mechanism against said springmeans.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said first shaft ishollow and with the addition of a second shaft slidably extendingthrough said first shaft and rotating with said first shaft, said crankbeing mounted on said second shaft, said means connecting said crank tosaid mechanism, a control disk on said second shaft in the center ofsaid control wheel, and spring means urging said control disk away fromsaid control wheel so that pressure on said control disk extends saidmechanism against said spring means and rotation of said control wheelimparts lateral motion to said mechanism.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said mechanism has apivot point near said attached end of said mechanism, and with theaddition of means constraining the attached end of said mechanism tolateral motion, a restraining link having a pivotally mounted and a freeend, the free end of said restraining link being connected to said pivotpoint near the attached end of said mechanism, a housing mounted on saidboard to the side of the attached end of said mechanism, a hollow shaftrotatably mounted in said housing having inner and outer ends, a wheelon the outer end of said hollow shaft, a crank on the inner end of saidhollow shaft extending below said board, a connecting link extendingfrom said crank to the attached end of said mechanism, a central shaftslidably disposed within said hollow shaft having inner and outer ends,a downward projection from the inner end of said central shaft connectedto said restraining link, a central disk on the outer end of saidcentral shaft in the center of said wheel, spring means urging saidrestraining link to retract said mechanism longitudinally, rotation ofsaid wheel in a given direction moving said magnet laterally in the samedirection and pressure on said central disk extending said mechanismagainst said spring means.

8. An amusement device comprising, in combination, a board, a lazy tongsmechanism disposed below said board, said mechanism having an attachedand a free end, an element attached to the free end of said mechanismunder said board, hand-activated control means connected to saidmechanism near said attached end moving said mechanism in two directionsin a plane parallel to said board, said mechanism magnifying motionimparted to said mechanism by said control means to move said elementbelow the area of said board, a toy disposed on said board, said elementand said toy being magnetically attracted to each other, said toy beingdrawn about on said board by movement of said element, said mechanismhaving a pivot point near said attached end, and said control meanshaving two restraining links connected to said pivot point, saidrestraining links being substantially at right angles to each other,said mechanism substantially bisecting the angle between saidrestraining links, said control means having hand-activated meansconnected to the outwardly disposed ends of said restraining linksmoving said restraining links longitudinally.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said hand-activatedmeans connected to the outwardly disposed ends of said restraining linkscomprise pivotally mounted means attached to said board and to theoutwardly disposed ends of said restraining links, and means to manuallypivot said pivotally mounted means.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said pivotally mountedmeans are pivotally mounted links substantially at right angles to saidrestraining links, and wherein said means to manually pivot saidpivotally mounted links comprise control disks rotatably mounted on saidboard, said board containing openings below said disks, and controllinks attached to said control disks through the openings in said boardand to said restraining links, manual rotation of said control diskslongitudinally moving said restraining links.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said board issubstantially square, the attached end of said mechanism is attached tosaid board near one corner of said board, and said restraining linksextend substantially to corners of said board adjacent to said cornernear which said mechanism is attached.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,140 9/1953 Kovac 46--240ROBERT PESHO'CK, Primary Examiner ROBERT F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BOARD, A FIRSTPIVOT MEANS, LAZY TONGS MECHANISM DISPOSED BELOW SAID BOARD, SAIDMECHANISM HAVING A PIVOTED END ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS AND ANOUTER FREE END, AN ELEMENT ATTACHED TO THE FREE END OF SAID MECHANISMUNDER SAID BOARD, A SECOND PIVOT MEANS ON SAID MECHANISM NEAR BUTDISPLACED FROM SAID PIVOTED END, A HAND-ACTIVATED CONTROL MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID SECOND PIVOT MEANS TO MOVE SAID MECHANISM IN TWODIRECTIONS IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID BOARD, SAID CONTROL MEANS MOVINGONE OF SAID PIVOTS ABOUT THE OTHER OF SAID PIVOTS, SAID LAZY TONGSMECHANISM MAGNIFYING MOTION IMPARTED TO SAID MECHANISM BY SAID CONTROLMEANS TO MOVE SAID ELEMENT BELOW AN AREA OF SAID BOARD, AND A TOYDISPOSED ON SAID BOARD, SAID ELEMENT AND SAID TOY BEING MAGNETICALLYATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER, SAID TOY BEING DRAWN ABOUT SAID BOARD BYMOVEMENT OF SAID ELEMENT.